Abstract
This study compared oxidative stress, hematological parameters, and biochemical alterations between dogs with neurological-form canine distemper virus (CDV) and healthy controls. Twenty dogs aged 1-12 months diagnosed with neurological-form CDV on the basis of clinical findings and a rapid antigen test, together with 10 clinically healthy control dogs, were included. Body temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were recorded in all animals. Hematological variables [white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count (LYM), monocyte count (MON), granulocyte count (GRA), red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), and platelet count (PLT)], serum biochemical parameters [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, and creatinine], and oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT)] were analyzed. Compared with controls, dogs with neurological-form CDV did not differ significantly in body temperature (P > .05), whereas pulse rate (P < .01) and respiratory rate (P < .05) were significantly increased. They also had significantly reduced WBC, MON, and GRA counts (P < .001), reduced LYM counts (P < .01), and lower RBC, HCT, HGB, and PLT values (P < .001). Serum ALT and AST increased (P < .05), as did creatinine (P < .01) and urea (P < .001). MDA concentrations were higher (P < .05), whereas GSH and CAT concentrations were lower (P < .05). These findings indicate that neurological-form CDV is associated with hematological suppression, biochemical changes suggestive of hepatic and renal involvement, and impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance, supporting a possible role for oxidative stress in disease pathophysiology.